JOINT SCIENCE & INNOVATION AND HAND-IN-HAND INVESTMENT FORUM EVENT: SCIENCE, INNOVATION & INVESTMENTS FOR TRANSFORMATIVE FOOD SYSTEMS PATHWAYS - Opening Remarks
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
19/10/2022
JOINT SCIENCE & INNOVATION AND HAND-IN-HAND INVESTMENT FORUM EVENT:
SCIENCE, INNOVATION & INVESTMENTS FOR TRANSFORMATIVE FOOD SYSTEMS PATHWAYS
Opening Remarks
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
19 October 2022
(18.00 hours)
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Change-Makers,
1. Meaningful, diverse and effective interaction, dialogue and participation is critical to transform our agrifood systems and put the SDGs back on track.
2. WE are the only UN Specialized Agency to have a dedicated office for the SDGs, which I established 3 years ago – we are walking the talk!
3. This was even before the pandemic and the many overlapping crises – we need to act in advance.
4. Every opportunity is waiting for those who prepare themselves in advance.
5. We need to use this opportunity to reform FAO to fit-the-purpose.
6. At the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, 163 Member Nations convened and committed on the importance of agrifood systems transformations in accelerating the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs nationally and globally.
7. They all expressed the same sense of urgency and strong hope that together we can and must make progress towards sustainable, equitable, healthier and resilient agrifood systems for current and future generations.
8. This is why we are here today.
9. To build on this momentum and deliver on these commitments.
10. This is also why FAO is honoured to host the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, on behalf of the UN System, for follow up to the Summit outcomes.
11. I really appreciate the trust by the UN SG and DSG on myself, and to the Organization, it is a responsibility and an honor to work with all stakeholders, across generations with solidarity, and based on science and passion.
12. Together, united as One UN, our goal is to support countries in making their agrifood systems transformations a reality on the ground, as quickly, as efficiently and as inclusively as possible.
13. But this will not happen without the meaningful engagement of the Youth, without science, and without proper investments.
14. Building meaningful partnerships to leverage our collective strengths is the only way we can move forward.
Dear Change-Makers,
15. The case is clear: sustainable agrifood systems are an essential solution to many of the current complex challenges the world is faced with: hunger, poverty, climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and conflicts, among others.
16. And it is possible to feed a growing global population, while protecting our planet - many solutions already exist.
17. But we need a holistic design and proper implementation.
18. Scientists are familiar with think-tanks – but I always say, we need to transfer to an action-tanker!
19. As I always tell my colleagues: a big action start with a small step.
20. We need science to ensure evidence-based policy-making; the youth to guarantee the sustainability of today’s actions; and the investment community to help us move from planning to implementation, from strategy to the action plan.
21. The Hub will, among other actions, foster an ecosystem of support for meaningful multi-stakeholder engagement.
22. In this session, we will have two Impact Panels: one on investments and another on science, technology, and innovation.
23. Both panels will show case how the global community can inclusively tap into new opportunities to build forward together, towards a better future.
24. In times of multiple crises, we need bold solutions and actions across our agrifood systems to ensure the SDGs become a shared reality.
25. The World Food Forum reminds us we need long-term planning to safeguard the health of our people and the planet.
26. I know we can do extraordinary work together.
27. Together with scientists, and my senior managers, and all of you, we can work together to find the science-based solutions we need.
28. Thank you.